Meet Our Parish Pastoral Council

Sacred Heart Catholic Church currently has seven parish pastoral council members as of May 2017.

Angelina Klapperich--

Angelina Klapperich was baptized here at Sacred Heart and has been attending church here since birth! She recently graduated with her degree in Psychology from UAA. She plans to pursue a career in counseling! She feels so blessed to be part of such an incredible community at Sacred Heart and wants others to feel like they are part of a family here! She is open to talking with parishioners of all ages and is open to listening to any concerns or suggestions within the church. Also, going into the counseling field, she is happy to listen if you need someone to talk to about life's struggles. Feel free to approach her and say hello anytime you see her at church!

Lindsey Chadwell is a born and raised Alaskan and has been a member of Sacred Heart Parish all her life. She was baptized in the “old church” on Super Bowl Sunday, which solidified her lifelong love for God and football. She was an altar server for 10 years and began serving as a lector and hospitality minister in high school. She has been a lector ever since and served as a RCIA candidate sponsor. Lindsey earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Alaska Anchorage and now works for the university in the Registrar’s Office. She and her husband live in Palmer, and she attends the 9am mass. Lindsey’s Sacred Heart family has enriched her life in many ways. She is honored to serve them as a member of Pastoral Council.

John Mahoney was born in Englewood, Colorado to Robert and Virginia Mahoney who were both descended from immigrant farm families originally from Ireland and Germany, respectively. He is one of seven children. He attended 8 years of Catholic School, and 4 years of Public high School in Colorado. After graduating, he moved to Alaska in 1972, was married in 1979 and raised 6 children. He currently earns a living working as a carpenter/construction manager on commercial projects. John has been a member of Sacred Heart Parish since 1972. His Uncle Paul and Aunt Ona Mae Mahoney were homesteaders since 1959, and were instrumental in the formation of Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Karen Smith was born and raised in NY. She came to Alaska in 1991 where she met her husband. They have two children. Their daughter graduated from The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles, CA and currently works in Palmer as an esthetician. Their son attends UAF where he currently is working at the University Fire Department. After 18 years of being a stay at home mom, Karen accepted the position of administrative assistant in September 2011 with Our Lady of the Valley Catholic School. In June of 2012, the school location changed to the campus of Sacred Heart. Her family has been members of Sacred Heart since 1998. Karen and her husband are both Eucharistic Ministers at the 11:30am mass. She was asked by Fr. Scott Garrett to be on the Parish Pastoral Council as a representative of Our Lady of the Valley in 2012. She looks forward to serving Sacred Heart and Our Lady of the Valley for many years to come.

Stephen Cochran was born in St. Maries, Idaho, in 1950. Growing up in St. Maries, he attended first through eighth grade at St. Mary’s Academy, a school run by Benedictine nuns. His education continued at the public high school, then on to earn a degree in Business Administration from Boise State University. After graduation, Stephen’s work experience included general foreman and superintendent positions on heavy construction projects in the Pacific Northwest. In 1983, Mary and Stephen moved with their children, Jason and Erin, to Wasilla, Alaska. Mary began her career as a teacher in the Mat-Su School District and our children attended schools in the Valley. As a member of Laborer’s Local 341, Stephen worked on projects in South Central Alaska from 1984 to 2001. In 2001 the Facilities Construction and Management Division of the Anchorage School District hired him as a Construction Inspector and later promoted him to Regulatory Manager. Duties at ASD included compliance with EPA regulations, Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), Hazardous Materials Removal, Americans with Disabilities Act, Fire Code regulations, and project management. Steve retired from ASD in 2016 and plans to continue to reside in the Valley with him wife who retired from MSBSD in 2015. They have been members of Sacred Heart Parish since 1983.
Contact Steve: 907-841-6094, stephenwcochran@icloud.com

Dan Elliot--

Daniel Elliott has been a member of Sacred Heart Parish since about 1992. He is retired from Laborers #341. He became a lector after Fr. Kaspar requested, if possible, each family have at least one member involved in one or more parish ministries or support groups. When Fr. Bill was pastor, he asked Dan to be the Sacred Heart representative to the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council. Before Fr. Scott left he appointed Dan to the parish council. He now serves in that capacity under Fr. Joseph.

Joshua Trouy--Joshua Trouy has been a Catholic since birth, being baptized in St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Anchorage and coming to Sacred Heart Parish since he was very young, about 1 year old. He was homeschooled from kindergarten to the third grade. Once he started the third grade, Our Lady of the Valley Catholic School opened its doors for the first time. Joshua attended OLV for two years before returning to being homeschooled through his sophomore year of high school, when he began attending the Alaska Middle College School, allowing him to effectively begin college in his junior year of college. Joshua has since graduated high school, and is enrolled full-time at the University of Alaska Anchorage, working towards a Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences. Ever since he finished his First Communion he has been an altar server at Sacred Heart through his high school years. Once he started high school he began lectoring at the 11:30 masses, and has been doing it ever since. In early 2017 Fr. Joseph asked Joshua to be the youth representative for the pastoral council, to accurately represent the youth’s desires for directions that the parish will be going in the future. Joshua’s goal is to be active in our parish and encourage others to be active as well.

Emilie Cullison has attended Sacred Heart Parish since 1983. She currently serves as the Sacred Heart Finance Council Secretary, and serves as a member of the Parish Pastoral Council. Emilie has a background in small business management, and accounting. Emilie has served as Treasurer and Secretary for Wasilla Youth Soccer Association, a non-profit organization. She has coached soccer in the valley since 2010 and holds a National E license. She is married and has three children. Emilie enjoys family time, hiking, and cooking.